Speckled Smooth-hound

About the Speckled Smooth-hound

The speckled smooth-hound is a species of groundshark, found in Peru, Chile, and Ecuador. It’s commonly taken by artisanal gill net fisheries in Chile, where it’s more abundant. It is a robust species with a long snout, small mouth, and tiny eyes. Its teeth are molar-like and lack cusps. The maximum reported length for this species is 130 cm.

Speckled smooth-hounds are ovoviviparous. The embryos develop in eggs inside the mother.

Because of intense fishing pressures and population decline, this species is considered Near Threatened. It could Threatened if populations continue to decline.

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Scientific Name Mustelus mento
OrderGround Sharks - Carcharhiniformes
GenusMustelus
CitesNot Listed
IUCNNear Threatened
ReproductionOvoviviparous
SizeMedium
Litter Size 7
Common Length 130 cm
Max LenghtNA
Depth Range 16 - 50 m
DistributionSoutheast Pacific
EnvironmentDemersal